The Raft Rescue
THE RAFT RESCUE
Read John 5:20-24.
“Help! Save me!” Todd screamed as his homemade raft rushed toward the falls. Because the current was rough, he had tied the raft to a tree on the riverbank. However, the once-thick rope had become frayed. When he’d jumped onto the raft, the rope had snapped, sending the raft downstream.
Oh no! Todd thought. What now? I can’t swim well enough to reach the shore. Two miles downstream, the river plunges fifty feet over Drop-Off Point! The river ran right next to the road, so he waved his arms and yelled.
Todd’s father was driving home from work when he looked out at the river. Upstream he could see the raft spinning around—and someone was on it! Quickly stopping the car, he kicked off his shoes and jumped into the river. Being a strong swimmer, he headed toward the middle of the river and waited for the raft to reach him. How surprised he was to see his own son on it! He called out, “Todd, jump! I’ll save you!”
Todd looked at the sturdy raft, then at his father in the swirling waters. He wasn’t sure he wanted to leave the raft, but he knew it would mean death if he didn’t. As he leaped into the surging water, his father caught him. Todd’s father slowly made it back to the shore, with Todd in tow.
Back home, Dad said, “What I did for you today is sort of like what Jesus did for us. We couldn’t save ourselves from our sins. Just like you had to trust me to save you when you jumped, we need to be willing to trust the Lord.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? If not, talk to a trusted Christian friend or adult to find out more.
TO MEMORIZE:
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
LET JESUS SAVE YOU.
From the book
